Life In The Saddle

Low temperatures and winter storms push wind-chill factors to sub-zero. Bike riding does not have to cease in freezing conditions though; with the right clothing, there is no reason not to enjoy your cycling, even in the chilly months of winter. In this blog post, I offer my tips and advice for the right clothing to keep you comfortable when cycling in the depths of winter… 1 – Long Sleeve Base Layers Cold hands when cycling in low temperatures? Long sleeve base layers are the key to comfort here. Your hands are an extremity—they are one of the furthest points from the central boiler pump that is your heart. In order to keep them warm, you need to keep the blood that is flowing to them warm. Protecting your lower arms from wind-chill and insulating them with a long sleeve base layer will aid warm blood flows down your arteries all the way to your hands. The best long sleeve winter cycling base layer I have used is the GripGrab Expert Seamless Thermal Long Sleeve Cycling ...

The Gobik Polartec Long Sleeve Envy Jacket is a close-fitting outer layer made from Polartec's innovative NeoShell® fabric—the world's most breathable waterproof fabric. This is a winter cycling jacket that feels more like a long sleeve jersey, thanks to its stretch and performance cut; but it offers the protection of a deep winter outer shell. Polartec® NeoShell® was developed by the American brand to offer the optimal balance of waterproof protection and breathability that is sought-after in active wear. The fabric is used in hiking jackets, cycling jackets, and waterproof trousers with tremendous success, and this deployment in the Gobik Polartec Long Sleeve Jacket is a strong example of utilising the fabric well. The NeoShell® fabric provides a high stretch bonded three-layer covering, with taped seams to prevent water from seeping in. The high cut collar, lower cut rear hem and YKK® Vislon® AquaGuard® zipper all enhance the protection and coverage provided by the jack...

We are nearing the end of winter here in the UK (I hope), but I wanted to share one of my favourite pieces of the season: the Le Col Pro Jacket, featuring Polartec® Power Shield Pro®. The Pro Jacket is branded as Le Col’s ' fastest winter cycling jacket ', thanks to its close fitting cut and high performance fabric. Polartec® Power Shield Pro® is the star of the show, with its highly breathable, waterproof and windproof properties, and its four way stretch. Polartec® Power Shield Pro® is a new bio-based performance fabric, it uses Biolon in 45 percent of its composition; a renewable, non-GMO, non-PFAS, plant-based nylon with a 50% lower carbon footprint than virgin Nylon. With 20K breathability and 20k waterproofing, Power Shield Pro® offers a durable, waterproof and windproof layer to shield you from the elements.  Power Shield Pro® also uses a new molecular diffusion technology that moves water vapour out of the fabric while maintaining a barrier against water droplets. B...

Rab brand their Infinity Microlight as " the most protective version of the iconic Microlight".  Featuring an outer shell made from lightweight and breathable GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER®, it offers additional weather protection, while its 700FP 100% recycled down filling continues to provide the ultimate lightweight insulation. After using this jacket for the first time on the #NorthWestRoad bikepacking trip, it has fast become my favourite lightweight insulated jacket for cycling adventures. I have been a proud owner of a Rab Microlight Alpine jacket for many years, and the Infinity Microlight stays true to the Microlight's original purpose: an insulated jacket for year-round mountain use. The addition of the wind and weather resistance GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® outer fabric on the Infinity means that while still being super lightweight, this updated version has impressive weather protection to cope with light snow, drizzle, and shield you from windchill. ...

The dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Polartec Jacket is one of the most technically advanced winter cycling jackets that I have tested and reviewed to date. Combining three of Polartec's leading fabric technologies, dhb have been able to create a jacket that is exceptional in all areas of protection, breathability, and thermal regulation. The Aeron Lab collection is dhb's range-leading line—a selection of products that push the boundaries of what can be done with fit and function of cycling apparel. It is an impressive range to see; especially for me, as I watched first-hand the brand grow from a budget beginner into an award-winning label. The dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Polartec Jacket is a softshell jacket designed to be both your mid-layer insulation and outer layer protection; worn with just a base layer underneath in temperatures down as low as zero degrees Celsius. Like all winter layers though, it must deliver flexibility and adaptability to a range of temperatures; it does ...

Can you really fit your whole life into a seat-pack the size of a small rucksack? When you do, it calls for specialist lightweight kit; the Rapha Brevet Insulated Cycling Jacket features super-light Polartec insulation, and has a tiny pack-size—making it ideal for cooler temperatures on your bike explorations. Let us get straight to the point... this jacket is ludicrously lightweight; weighing in at just 74 grams for the Medium sample I have on test. That weight is thanks to a super-light weight Nylon windproof outer, and high level Polartec Alpha insulation; combined together, these create an impressively protective and insulating layer, with absolute minimal bulk.  Polartec Alpha is a unique market-leading insulation fibre, which provides both great breathability when you are working hard, as well as effective insulation when you are more sedate in your movements.  I used the jacket on my recent #XPDTN3Dolomites bikepacking trip , and for the early morning r...

The Vaude Steglio Softshell Jacket is an innovative high performance winter cycling jacket; featuring a superb fit, deep winter insulation, and an eco-friendly weatherproof shield. It is packed full of well thought-out design elements, and much like other Vaude kit I have tested it is standing up admirably well to a winter of use and abuse. The Steglio Windproof Softshell Jacket is a two layer jacket. The inner fabric is a soft brushed fleece material, which traps in valuable body heat. The outer is a windproof softshell material and uses Vaude's unique S-Cafe® oil coating (derived from used coffee beans!) to provide an eco-friendly non-PFC water-repellent finish. The fit of the Steglio jacket is articulated and close fitting, but it has room for layering. The sleeves feature contoured seams to provide a comfortable fit when in the riding tuck; while the long low cut of the back panel provides protection from rear wheel spray, and the hem is held firmly in place by a gripper ar...

In all honesty, I have barely taken this kit off since it arrived with me for testing. Vaude have done it again with the Vaude All Year Moab Mountain Biking Collection — they have produced a superb set of cycling kit, inspired by their heritage and knowledge in the outdoor sports market. This is innovative apparel, which performs both on the bike, and as practical everyday wear. Vaude All Year Moab Jacket The outfit starts with the Vaude All Year Moab Jacket — a lightweight multi-sport jacket, which is ideal for everything from winter walks to downhill MTB runs. The jacket is designed as a 'hybrid' piece of apparel — with strategically placed Primaloft® Eco Insulation on the front and shoulders providing warmth, and waterproof stretch inserts on back, hood and lower cuffs helping to shield you from the elements. The exceptional side of the All Year Moab Jacket comes from the details — features like the elasticated cuffs that seal out the wind; or the pit zips tha...

The Sportful Fiandre Extreme Jacket is one of the most impressive pieces of cycling kit I have come across to date; the single layer Polartec Neoshell fabric creates an outer layer that is lightweight, yet extremely protective against the elements. I used the first iteration of the Sportful Fiandre Extreme Neoshell Jacket for the TorTour Cyclocross Winter Stage Race , last year in Switzerland. The jacket instantly impressed: I was riding at threshold effort, in wind and snow, and yet I never once overheated or felt cold. The superb temperature regulation is thanks to the innovative Polartec Neoshell fabric. This single membrane holds properties similar to neoprene, in that it is waterproof, insulating, and super stretchy; it is different from neoprene though, in that it is highly breathable, and much thinner in profile. The way that Sportful has used the Neoshell fabric in the Extreme Jacket – with taped seams and a YKK waterproof zipper, make for an impressive jacket: a shieldin...